Leonino
·28 September 2026
Boss tempers hype over Sporting signing: “He won’t make an instant impact”

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Yahoo sportsLeonino
·28 September 2026

Issa Doumbia continues to attract attention after taking an important step in his international career. The 22-year-old Sporting midfielder made his debut for Italy’s senior national team last Friday against Belgium, and could now play against Turkey.
Roberto Mancini also sent a clear message about the expectations surrounding the player, arguing that his development should be monitored patiently.
R. Mancini: "He’s not one of those players who comes onto the pitch and makes a difference immediately"
"Doumbia played in Serie B last year and then moved to Sporting. He started playing in the Champions League and is now playing in the Portuguese league. He’s not one of those players who comes onto the pitch and makes a difference immediately because they have experience and lots of knockout-stage matches under their belt. We need to give him time", he said in comments to Rai.
. The midfielder, who joined Sporting after playing in Italian football, began competing in the Champions League and the Portuguese league, while being closely monitored by the national team coach.
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